Short-throw lever, spacer and bushing kit that tightens up the ZF6 six-speed shifter in 1999-2003 Ford F-250, F-350 and F-450 7.3L diesel trucks.
A 7.3L Power Stroke Super Duty with the six-speed manual is a truck people keep for 300,000 miles, and somewhere along the way the shifter goes soft. The long factory lever wobbles, the knob buzzes at idle, and finding the 5-6 gate turns into a search. This kit puts a shorter-throw lever on the ZF S6-650 (ZF6) in 1999-2003 Ford F-250, F-350 and F-450 trucks and replaces the worn bushings in the same job, using the supplied spacer and bolts.
The ZF6 lever sits on top of the transmission and works the internal shift mechanism directly, with no external cables. That makes the bushings at the base of the lever the only thing keeping the stick tight. When they wear, the lever moves before the shift mechanism does, so you get slop in neutral and a vague gate. The short-throw lever moves the pivot point so the stick travels less between gears. The gearbox itself is unchanged: DieselHub lists the S6-650 ratios as 5.79 first, 3.30 second, 2.10 third, 1.31 fourth, 1.00 fifth and 0.72 overdrive sixth, with a 5.23 reverse, and notes a strong spring-loaded detent guarding low and reverse.
Not every noise is the shifter. DieselHub notes that some rattle in neutral or in first at idle is normal on these trucks with a single-mass flywheel; that is gear rattle from inside the case, and pushing in the clutch makes it go quiet. Shifter rattle is different: hold the lever lightly and it stops. With the engine off, pull the boot and rock the lever in neutral. Play at the base of the lever with the shift mechanism not moving is worn bushings, which this kit replaces. If gears grind on the shift with the clutch fully depressed, or the transmission jumps out of gear, look at clutch release, fluid level and synchros instead; a new lever will not fix those. Our guide to automatic vs manual transmission repair cost explains what internal manual work typically involves.
This kit is listed for the ZF S6-650 six-speed in 1999-2003 Ford F-250, F-350 and F-450 Super Duty trucks with the 7.3L Power Stroke diesel. Ford also used the S6-650 behind the 6.8L V10 in that period, while the 6.0L and 6.4L Super Duty trucks use the S6-750, so do not assume this kit fits a 6.0L truck. Confirm you have the six-speed and send us the year and VIN if you want a second check before ordering. Other short throw kits we carry, such as the NV5600 kit for Ram 2500 and 3500 and the G56 short throw shifter for Ram, are for different transmissions and will not fit the ZF6. The rest of our manual transmission hardware is in hard parts.
| Transmission | ZF S6-650 (ZF6) 6-speed manual |
| Listed vehicles | 1999-2003 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450 Super Duty, 7.3L diesel |
| Includes | Short-throw shifter lever, spacer, bushings, bolts |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. It is listed for 1999-2003 trucks with the 7.3L. The 6.0L and 6.4L Super Duty trucks use the ZF S6-750, so this kit is not listed for them.
The 6.8L V10 used the same S6-650 in those years, but this kit is listed for 7.3L trucks. Send us your year and VIN before ordering for a V10.
Only if the rattle comes from the lever. If holding the stick stops it, it is the shifter. If pushing the clutch in stops it, it is normal gear rattle from inside the transmission and this kit will not change it.
Ford trucks through 2007 used MERCON V automatic transmission fluid in the S6-650, roughly 5.8 quarts. Check your owner's manual for your truck.
No. The lever comes off the top of the transmission and the job is done from inside the cab with the boot and trim removed.
